Two loosely organized lines of storms traversed a moderately unstable environment over north-central Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 19, 2020. These two lines of storms produced sporadic wind damage along their path.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CTP wrote it up.
Two loosely organized lines of storms traversed a moderately unstable environment over north-central Pennsylvania during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 19, 2020. These two lines of storms produced sporadic wind damage along their path.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS State College, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 19, 11:55 AM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 1255 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A subtropical ridge over the southern half of the CONUS and a broad Bermuda High will continue to provide PA with hot and humid weather for the next few days. A weak cold front moving southeast from the Upper Great Lakes will generate strong storms this evening. After a few generally dry days to start the week, the risk of showers and thunderstorms will increase next week with typical summertime conditions across central PA. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING/... A couple of showers have popped up SE of UNV, as expected. But, the heat in the SE remains slightly ahead of the curve. HI at noon local has already hit 100 at CXY, and 99 at MDT and LNS, and 97 at MUI and THV. Even with the few showers out there which may give some relief to those who get rain for a brief moment, it might backfire by raising the dewpoints and keep the HI where it is. Have stretched the heat advy back to include today and added Perry and Cumberland Cos, as some local/backyard obs do indicate HIs near or at 100, as well. Prev... Cu developing on schedule with high dewpoints and temperatures slightly ahead of going curve. With the advent of the cu, the temp curve should flatten somewhat and have made no changes to the going maxes. HI still expected to top out just below 100 for most places in the SE this aftn, but one or two stations may hit 100 for a brief time this aftn, but likely not over the entirety of a zone for 2+ hrs. Did nudge PoPs up slightly over the far NW before sunset as some CAMs develop showers/storms off a land breeze/I-90 ridgeline and these may drift into Warren Co before sunset. Prev... A mostly clear sunrise throughout central PA early this morning with light winds beneath a weak ridge at the sfc and aloft. Humidity is not yet oppressive, as dewpoints are running mostly in the mid 60s. Broad sfc high/sfc ridge axis moves east of PA today, delivering an increasing WSW boundary layer component to the flow as a sfc cold front crosses the central GLAKS throughout the day. Some CAMs initiate scattered elevated heat source convection over the western and northern terrain during the afternoon, but consensus of high resolution CAMs indicate a line of deep convection crossing the eastern GLAKS and northeast OH late afternoon and into NW PA this evening. Deep layer moisture increases throughout the day, with PW reaching 1.75" by late in the day ahead of the front. && .SHORT TERM /7 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/... Environment still looks potent for this evening in the NWrn third of the area, and have added mentions of strong winds and hail to the wx grids. Prev... Storms lose their potency as they progress ESEward this evening. It appears the southeast will miss out on any cooling storms as a result, but the Central Mountains could still see some marginally strong storms before the line of storms coming from NW PA weakens. Slightly cooler air will filter into NW half of PA later tonight into Monday morning, and areas of river valley fog are likely there. To the southeast, little relief will be seen from the heat, and Monday is looking to be more humid, pushing heat indices into Heat Advisory territory for a large part of SC and SE. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Ridging in place to start the work week with weak westerly flow. Models show some left over convection early monday especially across the SE zones. Temperatures will run hot, with many locations over 90 degrees by Monday afternoon. Heat index values stay under warning levels, 105. More advisory levels of 100 to 104, thus a briefing for now. The hot weather continues on Tuesday with little changes in the atmosphere. Forecast becomes a bit more uncertain beginning Tuesday night for the rest of the week. GEFS more progressive with an approaching trof and associated fropa then the Euro. For now, will increase pops into Wednesday and Thursday with convective systems moving in from the west. Subtle cooling aloft will bring temperatures closer to average, with no significant cooling likely. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Continued hazy, hot, and humid weather on Sunday. SW wind becomes stronger through the day and a front will drop down into the NW in the evening. A stray shower is possible ahead of the front between late morning and early afternoon Sun. Expect the main line of storms to reach BFD and JST between 22z/Sun and 02z/Mon. These should then decrease in intensity and coverage as they move SE, fizzling out after descending the Allegheny Front. Outlook... Mon-Tue...Mainly VFR, very hot and humid. Isold-sct PM showers/t-storms. Wed-Thur...Mainly VFR conditions again, but chc of showers/storms with slightly lower temperatures & humidity. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Monday for PAZ036-057-059-063>066. && SYNOPSIS...Lambert/DeVoir/Dangelo NEAR TERM...Lambert/DeVoir/Dangelo SHORT TERM...Lambert/DeVoir/Dangelo LONG TERM...Ross AVIATION...Dangelo/Colbert
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service State College PA 1243 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 PAZ004>006-010-011-201645- Warren-McKean-Potter-Elk-Cameron- 1243 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds 60 mph or greater and large hail exceeding 1 inch in diameter are possible this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ012-017>019-024>028-033-034-037-041-042-045-046-049>053-201645- Northern Clinton-Clearfield-Northern Centre-Southern Centre-Cambria- Blair-Huntingdon-Mifflin-Juniata-Somerset-Bedford-Tioga- Northern Lycoming-Sullivan-Southern Clinton-Southern Lycoming-Union- Snyder-Montour-Northumberland-Columbia- 1243 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail are possible this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report significant hazardous weather. PAZ036-057-059-063>066-201645- Franklin-Dauphin-Lebanon-Cumberland-Adams-York-Lancaster- 1243 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/StateCollege on the internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. PAZ035-056-058-201645- Fulton-Perry-Schuylkill- 1243 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Pennsylvania. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 223 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 PAZ004-191900- Warren PA- 223 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN WARREN COUNTY... At 222 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a line moving into far northwestern Warren County. The line was moving to the southeast at 25 mph. Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and penny size hail are possible. Locations impacted include... Columbus, Youngsville, Russell, Spring Creek, Lottsville, Garland, Sugar Grove and Bear Lake. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 4200 7900 4169 7961 4200 7960 TIME...MOT...LOC 1822Z 298DEG 20KT 4205 7945 4185 7996 Dangelo
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service State College PA 305 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 PAZ004-191930- Warren PA- 305 PM EDT Sun Jul 19 2020 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL WARREN COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM EDT... At 304 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Garland, moving east at 35 mph. Wind gusts of up to 55 mph are possible. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Youngsville around 315 PM EDT. Warren and Chapman State Park around 330 PM EDT. Other locations impacted by this storm include Starbrick and Clarendon. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 4177 7956 4195 7950 4194 7898 4164 7904 TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 284DEG 29KT 4184 7944 Dangelo
The Buffalo radar (KBUF), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:23 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 50 mph knocked down a tree across Coovers Crossing Road near Old Pittsfield Road west of Youngsville.
A thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 50 mph knocked down a tree onto wires in Port Allegany.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires, a home and two vehicles on the 500 block of West Allegany Avenue in Emporium.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree onto west Fourth Street in Emporium.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto wires near the intersection of Route 155 and Four Mile Road to the south of Sizerville.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees onto Route 322 in Potter Township.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down trees and wires on the 200 block of Red Mill Road near Potters Mills.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph uprooted and snapped multiple trees near Colyer Lake.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree on the 700 block of Lower Georges Road east of Potters Mills.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down multiple trees on Portland Mills Road between Game Commission Road and Arkansas Lane.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down a tree and wires onto Bennetts Valley Highway (Route 255) near Berkey Road southwest of Penfield.
A severe thunderstorm producing winds estimated near 60 mph knocked down numerous trees and wires in the vicinity of Route 255 and Mountain Run Road southwest of Penfield.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, July 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 894468, 894469, 894470, 894471, 894465, 909459, 909461, 909463, 909464, 909466, 909469, 909471.